Wild Desire

And what if Runner fell in love with Stephanie? Yes, that was the secret to Adam’s success. He had to see to it that it happened.

Wearing only fringed buckskins, his hair loose and flowing across his shoulders, Runner rode toward Damon’s ranch, his thoughts straying from Adam to Stephanie. He could not allow Adam to stand in the way of his feelings for the white woman. He was determined to see if she was the sort of woman that he could feel free to love. As far as her being a photographer was concerned, he had ways of handling that.

First, to get the business with Adam behind him. Then he would take time for the woman. Just looking at her made his heart melt.

Everyone had arrived at Damon’s ranch at almost the same time. Chatting only briefly, they had gone into the dining room for a large Mexican meal of spicy, tongue-tantalizing dishes. Only a few polite words had been exchanged, the atmosphere tight, as though something might explode at any moment.

Stephanie was glad when they retreated to the parlor to have coffee and sweets in front of the fireplace. Sitting comfortably in a plush overstuffed chair, she sipped on her coffee while Adam and Runner talked of old times, Damon’s concentration centered more on Stephanie than the discussion at hand.

Stephanie was nervous with Damon’s attention. She inwardly shivered, finding him repulsive. He was a squat, slovenly figure of a man, with short, bandy legs and a bulging potbelly. He was a hard-bitten, trail-driving Texan, tough and defiant with a “don’t crowd me” attitude.

Beneath an open vest bulged the seams of a dark calico shirt. His legs were encased in leather chaps, greasy and dark from long wear. The butt of a Colt pistol protruded from a holster on his right flank, and a bright red bandanna was knotted at his throat.

His expression was wooden as his dark eyes examined Stephanie from above a bristling mustache. She was glad that she had her small, pearl-handled derringer holstered at her waist. Her father had warned her that the potential for violence along the railroad was palpable. He had given her the gun for protection whenever she was away from her private railroad car.

He had teased her, saying that with the derringer slung around her waist, she could protect her charms even though she flaunted them.

Still uneasy, she turned her eyes away from him. The walls were decorated with exquisite Navaho rugs, buffalo hides, and mounted heads of buffalo. Bright paintings enlivened the Spanish house, its tiled hip roof spreading like an umbrella over a wide porch around the entire house.

In this room, the puncheon floors were filmy, chairs were thrown around in disarray, and a whiskey barrel complete with spigot and dipper sat in one corner.

Stephanie turned her gaze back to the large, stone fireplace. A tremendous fire was ablaze, logs five feet long resting across andirons.

“Stephanie, did you know that Runner and I played Indians and cowboy at Fort Defiance when we were youngsters?” Adam said, finally drawing Stephanie into the conversation.

Stephanie looked quickly over at him, now aware of another pair of eyes on her, making her pulse race. Runner. He had glanced over at her from time to time, while talking with Adam about their childhood.

But now he was looking openly at her.

Beneath Runner’s steady, warm gaze, Stephanie’s knees were suddenly weak and her heart was pounding within her chest. She could feel her f

ace heating with a blush. She smoothed her hands down the front of her riding skirt and then up again, grazing the leather holster at her waist.

“Sis?” Adam said, leaning to look at Stephanie. “Did you hear me? I was talking about the times when Runner and I played cowboy and Indian. I was always the cowboy, Runner the Indian. Don’t you think it’s somewhat amusing Runner is still playing the role of an Indian?”

Runner turned a sharp look at Adam. “Playing?” he said. His eyes filled with a sudden fire. “You call my relationship with the Navaho a game?”

Stephanie scarcely breathed as she looked over at Adam, whose face had grown suddenly ashen.

She turned toward Runner. She could tell that he was livid with rage. His face had lost all expression and had settled into a cold neutral look. Only his midnight-dark eyes were quick and alive as he awaited Adam’s reply and, most certainly, an apology.

“Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions over a mere slip of the tongue,” Adam said, nervously fidgeting with his stiff, white shirt collar. “I didn’t mean anything by what I said. Of course, I see how seriously you have taken your life with the Navaho. And . . . I . . . see that as commendable on your part, Runner. Quite commendable.

“I apologize, Runner,” he added after an awkward pause. He reached a hand over to Runner. “Shake on it?”

Stephanie inhaled deeply as Runner reached over and clasped Adam’s hand, obviously forgiving Adam this time. She doubted that he would be so quick to accept a handshake from Adam once he knew the full story. She was wondering when Adam was going to get the nerve to tell Runner the truth. After this small confrontation, she doubted it would be tonight.

She was stunned when Runner then rose quickly to his feet. She stared up at him, her eyes wide, her lips slightly parted.

“I must go,” Runner said, giving Adam a nod.

Because Runner had wanted to get answers out of Adam, and because of his fascination with Stephanie, he had ignored the taunts Adam had been throwing all evening, but it was obvious now that Adam was eluding all talk of the private spur, instead lingering on the subject of their boyhood. Runner would not sit by any longer and be humiliated by first Damon and then Adam. The cost was too high. He would get his answers later about the railroad and the white woman.

When he turned to Stephanie, his gaze reached out and clung to her for a moment, then he turned on a moccasined heel and walked toward the door.

Damon and Adam rose quickly from their chairs and followed Runner to the door. Disappointed that the evening had ended so quickly, Stephanie sat numbly in her chair.

She still felt the warmth of Runner’s gaze, but because of Adam’s bumblings, Runner was leaving too soon. Because of Adam, Stephanie felt that she might never get the chance to get to know Runner better.